Am J Med Public Health | Volume 1, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Abayomi Ajayi B1, Bamgboye Afolabi M2* and Victor Ajayi D1
1Department of Fertility, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Nigeria 2Department of Health, Environment and Development Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria
*Correspondance to: Bamgboye Afolabi M
Fulltext PDFIntroduction: Not withstanding verbal attention, there is little programmatic guidance as to how best to ensure that Nigerian women in reproductive age who have cancer have access to Fertility Preservation (FP) to support their reproductive goals after chemo- or radio-therapy that may be deleterious to their reproductive system. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the opinions of health-workers on FP in Nigeria. Materials and Method: The objective of this quantitative study was to assess the opinions, knowledge and attitude of 119 health workers from different parts of Nigeria on FP among women in child-bearing age who were diagnosed with cancer. A semi-structures questionnaire was used to gather data on the possibility of FP and about factors that could support or limit FP in the country. Results: The mean (± sd) of the respondents was 47.8 (10.9) years, most of whom (41, 34.5%) had been in practice for 20 years to 29 years. Though majority (110, 92.4%) have heard of FP there was no significant difference (r=1.10, 95% CI: -0.08, 0.28, P=0.26) in years of practice and awareness of FP. In all, 65 (54.6%) and 64 (53.8%) respectively knew of facilities that offer FP services in Nigeria and overseas. Those practicing for 10 years to 19 years were 1.7 and 2.2 times respectively more likely to know of such facilities within (χ²=1.54, P=0.20, OR=1.73, 95% CI: 0.74, 4.09) or outside (χ²=3.26; P=0.07; OR=2.20; 95% CI: 0.93, 5.20) the country than other groups. Health-workers practicing for 20-29 years had seen the highest number (98, 35.1%) of female cancer patient. There was a significant difference (χ²=10.37, P=0.03) in the proportion of health-workers’ response that cancer is an indication for fertility preservation. Approximately 90% of the health-workers believed that cost would be an aggravating factor for FP in Nigeria. Few health-workers seeing cancer patients discussed FP with their clients. Conclusion: Data from this study indicates that female cancer patients in child-bearing age do not receive adequate information or referral from their health-worker to a reproductive specialist for their fertility preservation. Awareness of the possibility of fertility preservation among female (and even male) cancer patients should be raised.
Fertility Preservation; Health-Workers; Female Cancer Patients; Nigeria
Abayomi Ajayi B, Bamgboye Afolabi M, Victor Ajayi D. Opinions of Indigenous Health-Workers on Fertility Preservation among Female Cancer Patients in Nigeria: Pros and Cons. Am J Med Public Health. 2020; 1(1): 1001..